Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-03-20
CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS
JOAQUIN MILLER TELLS ABOUT A PEW OF
THEN.
The Golden State Seems TO be Well Supplied VIII
First Class Institutions Of the Higher Ruea-
tOn-EOw It's Sons and Daughters 0btain
Culture.

l count it a good sign that so many
eastern mothers have written ME to ask
about the school facilities of the Pacific
coast and l am now going to begin giving
from tine 10 time sketches and histories Of
the great corner stones which have been
laid on these shores in the building Of the
state. | know these are dry, serious
themes, nothing at all like the letters I
might write on the wild excitements Of
carly life out here, the gold mines, the
great snow peaks, the wonderful scenery,
and so on; but rs the people of the Older
states seem to demand a knowledge Of
what We have done and are doing out here
in a solid and enduring work, a said be-
fore, / am willing to do my part in writing
down some account of the schools OF Cali
fornia.
In the first place, then, We have the
great University of California, right at the
doors of the Golden Gate, the first presi-
dency Of which was offered TO the late Gen.
McClellen, you may remember. Then we
have the University of the Pacific, presided
over by DR.. Stratton. Then We have the
Mills seminary and college. Then We
have, in the near prospective, the Senator
Stanford university, or, rather, l should
say, the university founded by Senator
Stanford, of California. with its marvellous
endowment by that gentlemen n his wife
of about $40, 600, 900!
But besides all these we have a solid.
bottom stratum of the most complete
school system in all the world. We have
more than 40. 600 school children IN at
tendance in San Francisco, in preparation
largely for these higher schools above
mentioned. With this blunt and brief
catalogue of facts | think it needless to as
sure parents Of the older states that they
have nothing TO fear. 80 far as school
facilities are concerned. in coming 10 Cali
fornia with their children. But in order
hat they may know more precisely what
is being done, what the advantages are, 80
far as climate, social surroundings, sanitary
benefits, and so on. are concerned, shall
now take mp one Of these higher places Of
education and give some detail Of its inner
and outer life. The University Of Califor-
MIA. the University Of the Pacific and the
Mills seminary and college have all been
in active operation for years, are all en-
tirely and nobly equipped for their worthy
work, and, | assert, are the peers OF the
best institutions in the world. The first
of these three in point of age, and, think,
in attainment of honorable mention and
splendid work, and therefore deserving Of
our frs attention. is the Mills seminary
and college. This celebrated institution,
like the University of California, is not far
from the Golden Gate. and was founded by
DR.. Mills and his wife nearly n quarter Of
a century ago. The good that il has done
during the lapse of that time IN turning
out teachers and in shaping the minds of
the young mothers of the far west is be-
yond calculation. DR.. Mills had been
educated by President Hopkins, and had
himself been president Of the Seminary Of
India and also OF Oaku college ut Honolulu.
So that this old pioneer came to California
not only we'll trained for his work in his
long missionary journey around the world,
but already q venerable man. He now
rests on one Of the fowery hillsides Of his
great seminary. His life work, like that
Of Senator Stanford, he made a present to
the people. ] am writing Of the dead.
But there was no halt in the forward work
when the great man fell. grit in battle
harness. He and his wife, who still sur
wives him TO infuse her lofty spirit and
splendid energy into the progressive work.
had conveyed the property tn q board OF
trustees, made up from the best men OF
California: and so it is as if the grand old
missionary Of India had merely grown a
bit tired and stepped aside to rest n while.
The landscape Ofthis California seminary
is perhaps the nearest approach to an
paradise that can be found in all
the circuit of the world. And this IL not
hecauNe Ofthe superior air at all. | have
lived az Oxford, Cambridge. the University 1
of Virginia, lectured at most Of the great
seminaries Of America, and so am not at
all unfamiliar with fine landscapes. But,
You see. the climate and the sOil-above
all the rlimate-here are such that any
competition is entirely out Of the ques-
ton.
This Mis- seminary lies in the lap Of o
tawny cres. NJ of grand old lcOnine hills. |
five miles back from the sca hank. The
lap OF mother earth seems to have been
made soft ami rounded all ready for this
garden Of gi-is.' IL looks out over the |
great hav ofSan Francisco, on out through
the Golden Gate. on ont over the shOreIcSs
Pacific ocean. on past the Sand ich islands. |
and away on toward India, where it, great
founder came from when his work had
been finished there.
The grounds here measure more than
100 acres, the buildings are ample and the
property is easily worth 500, OO0. A
generous giit for an old missionary and hi.
wife, eh?
Am | praising their acts overmucb?
Bear. in mind, they planted here in this
m~atchleSs landscape nearly one hundred
thousand trees! Here on this spot, where
wild beasts prowled twenty. six years ago.
have set up a forest Of never failing
roses. If yOu should set ont to walk
through all the roads of this wondrous
like landscape you would he very
weary in the legs, weary with delight, he
fore you were lone with the miles and
of natchless beauty and magnif-
cence. For here they have set up the
forests OF India, the flowcry forests
Of the luxurious South Sea Islands. II
know of no spot this side of lowlands Of
where this could he done 50 entirely
as here. A few miles distant from this
spot, in any direction you may 20, you are
Liable to encounter one, two or three nights
of frost during the coolest part Of the
hut here in this warm lap Of our
great mother frost was never know TO fall.
A mile or two nearer to the Golden Gate
and you may find q chill wind blowing in
Your iace in August, but here no chill
wind was ever felt. Surely il seems as il
it all rested in the hollow of Gods hand.
We might liDger all day in this tropical
yet ever cool and salubrious landscape on
the mountain side here with pleasure, and
with profit, too; but enough has been said
Of it TO stimulate earnest inquiry in the
minds of those who may find it necessary
TO seek out a kindly spot wherein TO place
young girls who are not equal to q harsh
and vigorous landscape and climate.
The sanitary advantages alone, il seems
to me, ought to make this seminary a place
OF singular favor. Yet | doubt If it has